By Jim Fryar

jfryar@joplinglobe.com

David Freitas and Riccio Torrez return to Joplin this week for a second opportunity to make the USA Baseball junior national team.

When the USA’s team trials begin, Freitas and Torrez will be among 34 players vying for a roster position on the team. The USA juniors begin competition in the Pan Am Championships later this month in Mexico.

Both Freitas and Torrez played in the USA Baseball Tournament of Stars this past summer in Joplin. Torrez was selected for the team trials last August in Atlanta, but Freitas didn’t make the cut. Torrez, one of the youngest candidates, missed the final national team roster for the 2006 junior world championships.

They have a better idea of what to expect when competition for roster positions begins with squad workouts Monday at Joe Becker Stadium.

It comes down to making the most of opportunities, both Torrez and Freitas said.

“Just knowing what to expect will help,” said Torrez, an infielder from Brophy College Prep in Phoenix. “I don’t want to psych myself out.

“It was hard last year (during team trials). We practiced in the morning, then we had a couple of hours to eat and rest before we played games. We played a lot of baseball.”

Freitas plans a simple approach during the trials, trying to not put too much pressure on himself.

“I want to come in and play hard, just play the game,” he said. “It’s just baseball. You give it all you’ve got and whatever happens will happen.

“I’ve been looking forward to the USA thing since school was out. It’s my chance and I’m going to give it my best shot.”

Freitas, a catcher, recently finished his senior year at Elk Grove High School in Wilton, Calif. He will attend Loyola Marymount this fall.

Torrez and Freitas, who will be teammates on the USA Blue roster to start trials play, both were encouraged by solid performances during the Tournament of Stars, held in June in Cary, N.C.

“I didn’t get many opportunities to get hits,” said Torrez, who drew six walks and was hit by pitches four times in four TOS games. He went 3-for-11, including a home run, and had a .619 on-base percentage.